2015 NFL season general discussion thread

[STEVEHOLT]

Manning's pop gun arm a huge limiting factor in their offense. If you looked at Pittsburgh's safeties, they were up on nearly every down, just no fear of anything deep. It really messed up Denver's run game. Just having the threat of a deep ball would greatly improve Denver's offensive prospects.

 

[Alsacs]

Tom Brady (3) has more Pass TD in Denver this season than Peyton Manning (1) in 5 fewer games!

PFF QBs grades this round
Tom Brady +2.6
Alex Smith +1.9
Cam Newton +1.8
Russell Wilson +1.6
Aaron Rodgers +1.2
Ben Roethlisberger +1.1
Peyton Manning -0.9
Carson Palmer -2.5

I had Manning 7th this round as well. Not sure of 1-6 order but I thought only Palmer was worse this round.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I know Manning isn't great, but man What happened to D. Thomas hands this year? Every Bronco game I watch regardless if it's Manning or Osweiler, he is dropping passes.

 

[Alsacs]

I know Manning isn't great, but man What happened to D. Thomas hands this year? Every Bronco game I watch regardless if it's Manning or Osweiler, he is dropping passes.

Thomas is a stud but your right about his hands.
I have no clue if its the throws or just flat drops. Who would you start BTW if you were the HC of Denver this week?

 

[Cusefan0307]

Thomas is a stud but your right about his hands.
I have no clue if its the throws or just flat drops. Who would you start BTW if you were the HC of Denver this week?

Oh man that's a tough call. I think Osweiler against Belichick a second time will be bad news. I'd probably roll the dice with Manning.

Manning is limited as far as throwing so I think the Patriots will try to make him make "small window" throws. I think Osweiler probably has the higher upside, but Manning is the safer pick.

Denver is going to need to score touchdowns to win. It's going to be difficult. I think the Patriots are going to come out and throw short to medium every down, and put up at least 27. I think Denver needs a minimum of 4 scoring drives to win.

Denver is going to get virtually no respect in this game. I thought Pittsburgh should of won yesterday. They gained a lot of empty yards.

 

[Alsacs]

Oh man that's a tough call. I think Osweiler against Belichick a second time will be bad news. I'd probably roll the dice with Manning.

Manning is limited as far as throwing so I think the Patriots will try to make him make "small window" throws. I think Osweiler probably has the higher upside, but Manning is the safer pick.

Denver is going to need to score touchdowns to win. It's going to be difficult. I think the Patriots are going to come out and throw short to medium every down, and put up at least 27. I think Denver needs a minimum of 4 scoring drives to win.

Denver is going to get virtually no respect in this game. I thought Pittsburgh should of won yesterday. They gained a lot of empty yards.

Pittsburgh outplayed Denver IMO. However Roby made the play and Denver won. No controversy at all in either AFC game. With Manning as the QB NE will not play 2 deep safeties they will play them closer to the LOS of and stop the run. Pittsburgh did this effectively yesterday.

Manning's arm restricts a lot of throws. With Edelman, Amendola returning and Harris hurting. I like the Pats ability to score some points in this game. Now Ware playing will be huge for Denver but NE should be able to get rid of the ball fast like they did this week.

Denver at home is honestly their only chance to win this game. If it was in NE it would be a NE win. I give Denver a 50/50 shot because of HFA.

NE will spread out 3 WRs and Gronk keep a TE in to help pass block and get rid of the ball very fast.

Without Edelman and Amendola they scored 24 points in Denver. However with Osweiler playing QB last game the Pats had to keep McCourty deeper to protect against the deep ball. With Manning if he completes the deep ball tip your cap as I don't see it as likely than with Osweiler stretching the D.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Monday morning qb here we go. Getting the cobwebs out and taking a day after look back. I was going to post all the qb grades also. So as we can see, Manning wasn't far behind anyone but Brady for the weekend of the best qb's in the game today. I went through the drive chart play by play. Manning went deep 8 times yesterday. He only completed 3, but it doesn't say whether it was dropped or a bad pass. And mind you that was by far the windiest game in Mile High this season. But anyways, I could care less about the deep ball. I don't think Brady had even attempted that many deep ones Saturday.

It's about completions. Yeah we've covered DT's drops somewhere in this thread like half way through the season. He was #1 in drops in the league for a while, I don't know what he is now. I'm hearing Chris Harris is questionable for this week. That's bad news as he's the best slot db in the league. Roby is no slouch, but that's who will cover Edelman if Harris can't go. We have a way better shot for pass rush than KC because of our secondary. We will look way different against the pats back there. We went zone yesterday which our guys are not comfortable playing as Denver plays the most snaps of man than any team in the league. But credit to Wade because it worked and they only scored 1 td. We'll play both this week. When Gronk is in the slot or wide, Talib will most likely check him and Edelman will be bracketed. Everyone else should just be man up. We have to win the special team battle, that's not an option.

 

[ssbriefcase]

In regards to Manning. Go look at the quotes from Harrison and Tomlin. Harrison basically saying Manning sniffed out their well disguised packages and put the Broncos in better plays because of that. Tomlin saying that's why you play Manning because this time of year is all about from the neck up when it comes to qb's. Shannon Sharpe was just saying what we all know here. Basically saying we all love Brock, but he wasn't winning that game yesterday as the Steelers showed things they haven't done before and it was very well hidden. Hell, Manning took a shot to the back from a free blitzer, when's the last time that's happened? If they fooled Manning they would've killed Brock. And there's no way in hell you play Brock against Belichick in the playoffs, that's playoff suicide.

CJ Anderson averaged almost 5 yds/carry and that's even when the Steelers KNEW the Bronco's were going to run it. And that's their strength. I know West didn't have a great average for the Chiefs, but my eye balls saw a weak run d from the pats. Kubiak will run the rock for sure. I think Denver needs to score 3 td's on O. We just need the Manning we got yesterday and more catches, and that can happen.

Brady in Denver is 2-6, with 0 playoff wins. Denver has done nothing but win dog fights this year and that's huge. We need to muddy the waters a little bit. And being a home dog, will probably do it.

 

[Alsacs]

In regards to Manning. Go look at the quotes from Harrison and Tomlin. Harrison basically saying Manning sniffed out their well disguised packages and put the Broncos in better plays because of that. Tomlin saying that's why you play Manning because this time of year is all about from the neck up when it comes to qb's. Shannon Sharpe was just saying what we all know here. Basically saying we all love Brock, but he wasn't winning that game yesterday as the Steelers showed things they haven't done before and it was very well hidden. Hell, Manning took a shot to the back from a free blitzer, when's the last time that's happened? If they fooled Manning they would've killed Brock. And there's no way in hell you play Brock against Belichick in the playoffs, that's playoff suicide.

CJ Anderson averaged almost 5 yds/carry and that's even when the Steelers KNEW the Bronco's were going to run it. And that's their strength. I know West didn't have a great average for the Chiefs, but my eye balls saw a weak run d from the pats. Kubiak will run the rock for sure. I think Denver needs to score 3 td's on O. We just need the Manning we got yesterday and more catches, and that can happen.

Brady in Denver is 2-6, with 0 playoff wins. Denver has done nothing but win dog fights this year and that's huge. We need to muddy the waters a little bit. And being a home dog, will probably do it.

Again I agree the HFA in Denver is the only reason I think this game will be close. So your right about Brady in Denver.

However look at the PFF numbers Manning was one of only 2 QBs that had negative rating for his performance.

Manning will have to make the passes that can stretch the field or the NE will put a safety in the box to stop the Denver running game. If their is an extra body in the box it will hurt the running game and that is what Pittsburgh did yesterday.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Again I agree the HFA in Denver is the only reason I think this game will be close. So your right about Brady in Denver.

However look at the PFF numbers Manning was one of only 2 QBs that had negative rating for his performance.

Manning will have to make the passes that can stretch the field or the NE will put a safety in the box to stop the Denver running game. If their is an extra body in the box it will hurt the running game and that is what Pittsburgh did yesterday.

I think with Denver's d they wouldn't let any game get out of hand no matter who or where. But it's going to be interesting. Kubiak will go in to this pounding the ball. Pitt knew it and couldn't stop it and they stacked the box. I think it's a must to eat clock and keep Brady out of getting that quick rhythm. Everyone knows what each is going to do on O, it's a matter of executing the d scheme for both teams. Our punt returner Bolden was just ruled out. So Sanders will have to go back there, I hate using him in that role. Kubiak and Elway dismantled this team after the sb debacle and rebuilt this team for the playoffs and toughness. Can't give them enough credit.

 

[Alsacs]

Denver had 31 rushing attempts from Hillman/Anderson (I won't count Manning 2 rushs) for 110 yards. 34 yards of that came on 1 run.

Pittsburgh shut down the Denver running game because they had an extra guy in the box. Pitt brought a CB or S pretty much every play for run support or blitzing.

KC ran for 135 yards on 32 carries and Alex Smith had 44 yards. So the RBs had 91 yards on 24 carries.

If NE puts Chung in the box as a LB/S it will be an extra body for the rush D. NE rush D is not bad. With Alan Branch/Malcolm Brown/Akiem Hicks(thanks New Orleans) and Dont'a Hightower/Jamie Collins at LBs they will be solid in run D. If Manning can't stretch the field I think NE will keep them out of the endzone.

Denver needs 24 points atleast this week.

 

[ssbriefcase]

We'll agree to disagree on "Pitt shut down the Denver running game". CJ averaged 5 a clip and telling Pitt we were going to run it, and marched down the field and scored a rushing td, all while running in a crucial time. I will agree Denver needs 24 pts at least.

 

[Alsacs]

Road favorites are rare in the AFC/NFC championship round.
AFC
1993 Buffalo over Miami. Buffalo was -2
1998 Denver over Pittsburgh. Denver was -2.5
2004 New England over Pittsburgh. NE was -1
NFC
1998 Green Bay over San Fran. GB was -2.5
2009 Arizona over Philly. Philly was -2.5
2011 Green Bay over Chicago. GB was -2.5
2013 San Fran over Atlanta. SF was -3.5

New England -3 vs. Denver right now.

Road favorites are 6-1 in these games in the modern playoff ERA.

 

[Melancer46]

Well, at least Seattle got knocked out. I'm hoping for Arizona vs. Denver for the Super Bowl, but I'm pretty sure New England will sleepwalk to the Super Bowl.

 

[Alsacs]

Not sure New England will sleep walk but I would definitely favor NE to beat Denver. Denver's D can play well and shut down the Pats if their pass rush plays well but the Denver O with P. Manning has to score TDs.

Denver should have been up double digits with their field position in the first quarter against Pittsburgh. Belichick will likely keep 6 in the box and double D. Thomas. Butler will likely cover Sanders.

Brady is 2-6 in Denver but he is 5-2 against Wade Philips Defenses.

This year Brady threw for 280 yards, 3 TDs. The Pats were 2 for 13 on 3rd down. That was the ball game as the Denver didn't let NE extend drives that is where no Edelman/Amendola was huge.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Not sure New England will sleep walk but I would definitely favor NE to beat Denver. Denver's D can play well and shut down the Pats if their pass rush plays well but the Denver O with P. Manning has to score TDs.

Denver should have been up double digits with their field position in the first quarter against Pittsburgh. Belichick will likely keep 6 in the box and double D. Thomas. Butler will likely cover Sanders.

Yeah Denver would've scored more than 1 td if not for 7 recorded drops, I would have to think. Bill's not dumb enough to double DT, no need for it. First of all, there's a good percentage that he's going to drop it. Second last time out against the pats, he had 1 catch on 13 targets, with pitiful drops, and I believe Logan Ryan played him man up. I think you're going to see a lot of te's on the field for the Broncos Sunday.

 

[Melancer46]

Yeah Denver would've scored more than 1 td if not for 7 recorded drops, I would have to think. Bill's not dumb enough to double DT, no need for it. First of all, there's a good percentage that he's going to drop it. Second last time out against the pats, he had 1 catch on 13 targets, with pitiful drops, and I believe Logan Ryan played him man up. I think you're going to see a lot of te's on the field for the Broncos Sunday.

Has Vernon Davis done anything for Denver? Since the Bucs got Jameis, I've actually had reason to watch my team religiously again and I haven't been able to pay close attention to whether or not Vernon has done anything.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Has Vernon Davis done anything for Denver? Since the Bucs got Jameis, I've actually had reason to watch my team religiously again and I haven't been able to pay close attention to whether or not Vernon has done anything.

No. He single handedly dropped a pass in the numbers on 4th down against the Raiders when he had daylight ahead and probably would've won the game. That was his 2nd bad drop and hasn't played a lot since.

 

[Alsacs]

http://www.businessinsider.com/defenders-aim-for-rob-gronkowski-knees-2016-1

That article and this hit are one of my big fears this week.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Yep, they're running out of areas on the body to hit.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

 

[ssbriefcase]

 

[Alsacs]

Since Bill Belichick became Patriots coach in 2000. The Patriots are 7-6(including playoffs) vs. Denver.

That isn't exactly Daddy level. It is a lot better than all teams not the Giants which are 3-3.

 

[ssbriefcase]

Do you have to be so literal? Lighten up enjoy, laugh a little. It's a long week. If we're going that route, why begin when Belichick started? Denver ALL TIME vs pats is 26-20, 3-1 in the playoffs.

 

[Alsacs]

Do you have to be so literal? Lighten up enjoy, laugh a little. It's a long week. If we're going that route, why begin when Belichick started? Denver ALL TIME vs pats is 26-20, 3-1 in the playoffs.

I am just saying the team that owns NE is the Giants. The places that NE has sucked in have been Miami and Denver. I am not being literal. The Giants have owned the Pats. They beat them in 2 gut punching Super Bowls.

Denver under Elway never lost a game to NE in his entire career. I can take friendly trash but the idea Denver owns NE isn't close to what the Giants and Eli have done.

Denver has been an even rivalry under BB but the Giants are the only NFL to get the best of the Pats in BB era.